Mannitol
Also known as D-Mannitol, Manna Sugar, Mannite, D-Mannite, Mannitol
“CIR Expert Panel says: safe as used in cosmetics.”
Mannitol (CAS 69-65-8; C6H14O6; MW 182.17) is a six-carbon sugar alcohol (hexitol) occurring naturally in brown seaweed, fruits, and vegetables, most commonly produced industrially by hydrogenation of fructose. In cosmetics it functions as a humectant and skin-conditioning agent. The CIR Expert Panel assessed mannitol jointly with sorbitol and xylitol in a final report (September 2019, published IJT 2025, PMID 39555956) and concluded these ingredients are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration, with no concentration limits or conditions imposed. The October 2024 CIR Quick Reference Table lists Mannitol with Finding=S (Safe) referencing the 9/2019 Final Report. Human clinical data confirm mannitol is well tolerated in dermal filler formulations (PMID 40997110); its free radical scavenging properties make it a useful antioxidant stabilizer in HA-based products (PMID 28027572), supported by a long safety record in food and pharmaceutical applications.
Effective humectant: attracts and retains moisture in the stratum corneum via six hydroxyl groups
Free radical scavenger: antioxidant properties help protect HA fillers from degradation and reduce post-injection inflammation
Long, extensive human safety history across food, pharmaceutical, and personal care applications
FDA-approved as a direct food additive; GRAS status
Not restricted under EU cosmetic product regulations
- · No dermal safety concerns at cosmetic use concentrations; CIR Expert Panel imposed no concentration limits or conditions
- · Oral ingestion at high doses produces osmotic diarrhea — not relevant to topical cosmetic use
- · Intravenous mannitol can cause hyperosmolarity in clinical settings — not relevant to topical cosmetic use
CIR Quick Reference Table (October 2024) — MANNITOL row: Finding=S, Citation=Final Report 9/2019 Available from CIR
“Mannitol S Final Report 9/2019 Available from CIR”— QRT-Update-100824_0.pdf, p. 162